Prediction for UFC on ESPN 55: Mateusz Nicolaou or Alex Perez in Las Vegas?

The UFC returns home after a week off, and two flyweight contenders are at the top of the lineup.

UFC on ESPN 55 (ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN+) takes place Saturday at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

(Click here to open a PDF of the Staff Pick Grid in a new window.)

Get picks and additional analysis from 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers below.

Tim Means vs. Uros Medic

record: Means (33-15-1 MMA, 15-12 UFC), Medic (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Last 5 times: Means 2-3, Medic 3-2
Split: welterweight
Ranking: none
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Average +245, Medic -305
Junkie Pick Results: Medic 6, Means 5

David Onama vs. Jonathan Pearce

record: Onama (11-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Pearce (14-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Last 5 times: Onama 3-2, Pierce 4-1
Split: featherweight
Ranking: none
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Onama +125, Pierce -150
Junkie Pick Results: Pierce 7, Onama 4

Jonata Diniz vs. Austin Lane

record: Diniz (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Lane (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Last 5 times: Dinis 5-0, Lane 4-1
Split: heavyweight
Ranking: none
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Dinis -340, Lane +270
Junkie Pick Results: Dinis 11, Lane 0

Ariane da Silva vs. Karine Silva

record: da Silva (17-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC), Silva (17-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC)
Last 5 times: Da Silva 4-1, Silva 5-0
Split: women's flyweight
Ranking: Da Silva Honorable Mention, Silva Honorable Mention
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Da Silva +135, Silva -160
Junkie Pick Results: Silva 10, Da Silva 1

Bogdan Guskov vs. Ryan Spann

record: Guskov (15-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Spann (21-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC)
Last 5 times: Guskov 4-1, Span 2-3
Split: light heavyweight
Ranking: Span No.13
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Guskov +150, Span -180
Junkie Pick Results: Span 11, Guskov 0

Matheus Nicolaou vs. Alex Perez

record: Nicolau (19-4-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC), Perez (24-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC)
Last 5 times: Nicolau 4-1, Perez 2-3
Split: flyweight
Ranking: Nicolau No.10
Odds (as of April 26, 2024): Nicolaou -180, Perez +150
Junkie Pick Results: Nicolau 9, Perez 2

story continues

UFC on ESPN 55 Main Card Picks

	nicolaou versus Perez	Guskov versus span	Da Silva versus Silver	Dinis versus lane	Onama versus Pierce	means versus medic
Dear MMA Junkie readers consensus pick 68-37	nicolaou (84%)	span (59%)	Silver (69%)	Dinis (78%)	Pierce (65%)	medic (69%)
mike bourne @MikeBohn 73-32 2014 Champion	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	medic
Farah Hanoun @Farah_Hannoun 69-36	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	means
nolan king @mma_kings 68-37 2023 Champion	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Onama	medic
ken hathaway @1khathaway 68-37 2018, 2022 Champion	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	medic
Abby Subban @Kamakaze 66-39	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	means
matt erickson @MattE 65-40	nicolaou	span	Da Silva	Dinis	Onama	medic
Matthew Wells @MrMWells 64-41	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Onama	medic
Simon Samano @SJSamano 62-43	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Onama	medic
Brian Garcia @thegoze 58-47 2017 Champion	Perez	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	means
Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 56-49	nicolaou	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	means
George Garcia @MMAjunkie George 49-56	Perez	span	Silver	Dinis	Pierce	means

For more information on this card, visit MMA Junkie's UFC event hub on ESPN 55.

The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie